clinton said later what nelson mandela told him was, they can imprison you. your enemies can go after you. what you cannot give them is your heart and soul. you must keep that for yourself. if you can do that you can maintain your dignity. >> and nelson mandela did that throughout his entire life. david gergen, thanks for joining us. rick stangel fascinating as well, christiane amanpour no doubt we'll be talking a lot in the days ahead. thanks for watching cnn's special coverage of the death of nelson mandela. it continues next with wolf blitzer. welcome to our viewers in the united states and around the world as we remember nelson mandela. i'm wolf blitzer in washington. we're learning new details about tribut tributes south africa's first black president and president obama intention to attend a memorial service for one of his personal heroes, who transformed his country and inspired people all over the world. >> we've lost one of the most influential, courageous and

profoundly good human beings that any of us will share time with on this earth. -- captions by vitac -- www.vitac.com >> you're look at a live picture from south africa where it's 6:00 a.m. right now. many people waking up to the news of nelson mandela's death. no single person has changed that country more than the former prisoner who became president and few people are as beloved around the world as a symbol of both freedom and forgiveness. mandela's life and legacy are being celebrated this hour. at the south african embassy here in washington, d.c., at the apollo theater in new york city and indeed all across the united states and around the world. nelson mandela walked out of prison in 1990, after 27 years brutal years behind bars, jailed for his fight to end south africa's system of racial

segregation known as apartheid. only a few years later, mandela was elected president in the first fully democratic vote in south africa's history. nelson mandela was 95 years old. the nobel peace prize winner died today after a long illness. tonight cnn is bringing you team coverage of this legendary leader, his life and death and the reaction around the world. here in our studio we're joined by the south african ambassador to the united states as well as the long-time cnn anchor bernie shaw. he conducted a remarkable interview with nelson mandela, an interview you haven't seen since 1994. but first let's go to cnn's robyn kurnow in johannesburg, south africa right now. robyn set the scene. it's a new day in south africa. people right now just waking up. what's the latest? >> reporter: many south africans will be getting that news on their radio in remote rural areas. some will pick up a paper on

their way to catch a train into work. others will have picked it up on social media. but today is the first day in south africa's democratic history that south africans will be without the man that they knew as the father of this nation. he went, the announcement that he died came just before midnight on thursday south african time. jacob zuma confirming that he had slipped away after a long illness. this was not a surprise. as we all know he's been gravely ill with this lung infection. and i think towards the end the drugs, the antibiotics just didn't work. his body just too frail. and he's surrounded by his family, we understand. but i think what is key moving on now, we know nelson mandela's body has been moved from his home to a mortuary in pretoria, to a military hospital in pretoria.

it will stay there for the next few days where it will be embalmed. the next time you'll see him in the casket will be at a memorial service in the soccer city stadium where the world cup final was played, where there'll be a big public memorial. but i think for now we know also that not just his family has he been surrounded by but also tribal leaders, elders from his community who will be following him all the way, explaining to his body, to his departing spirit what is going on. so there'll be this very traditional mix to this as well as western funeral traditions over the next ten days of mourning. we're going to see a lot of tribal traditional rituals that will be played out here this south africa. >> and it will culminate with a state funeral within those ten days, at the end of those ten days. robyn, we'll get back to you. president obama called the south african president jacob

zuma tonight to offer america's condolences. our senior white house correspondent jim acosta is joining us now from the white house. i assume at some point the white house will announce the president will go to south africa to pay his personal respects. >> reporter: that's right. they haven't announced all the details yet, wolf. but officials here at the white house say they are working on the details, that president obama's expected trip to south africa to join that nation an the world in honoring nelson mandela. the president as you mentioned, wolf, called south african president jacob zuma to offer his condolences and ordered flags around the united states and in u.s. installations around the world lowered to half-staff in honor of the south african icon. earlier this evening after his earlier statements in the briefing room, president obama commented again on mandela's influence in the world at a hanukkah reception at the white house. here's what the president had to say. >> obviously on a note of seriousness, tonight our thoughts and prayers are with the mandela family in south

africa. they're grieving the loss of a man, a moral giant who embodied the dignity and the courage and the hope and sought to bring about justice, not only in south africa but i think to inspire millions around the world, and he did that. the idea that every single human being ought to be free, and that oppression can end and justice can prevail. >> yes. [ applause ] >> that's what -- >> now we know nelson mandela was a big political inspiration for president obama. but given that, it is remarkable to point out, wolf, that president obama and nelson mandela have only met face-to-face one time. take a look at this. here's a photograph we can show you of the two men together back in 2005. barack obama had only been a u.s. senator for a few months. nelson mandela was in washington. he reached out to mr. obama and said, i'd like to meet you. and they basically officials on

both sides arranged this sort of impromptu visit between the two men. when the senator at the time, senator barack obama was on his way to an event. flash forward to this year, president obama warranted to visit nelson mandela during a trip to south africa last summer. but because of mandela's poor health that didn't happen. he did honor the south african leader by visiting the robben island prison. one of the more stirring images of that trip when mandela was confined for 18 years of his 27 years of captivity. add to all of that, wolf, the fact the president's first political act was atenth tending an anti-apartheid rally when he was a college student. safe to say this upcoming trip for the president will be very important to him. he's called mandela one of his heroes. but more critically as one white house official said to me earlier this evening, the upcoming services honoring the life of mandela will be an important moment for the world. and wolf, given something of this scale and this magnitude i'm hearing from a variety of officials that don't be

surprised if you see something along the lines of a major u.s. delegation going to south africa that includes not only living presidents that are capable of going, of course, and then of course some major u.s. dignitaries that might be joining the president as well. it's going to be a very, very big deal, wolf. >> and many dignitaries from the united states. but indeed, leaders from around the world will be in south africa as well. jim acosta, thank you. let's bring in the south african ambassador to the united states, ibrahim rusul joining us right now. mr. ambassador, i want to convey once again our condolences to you and to all the people of south africa. you're making plans in addition of for what's going to happen in south africa for a major memorial service here in washington, d.c., is that right? >> it's absolutely right, wolf. i think that the idea of a washington memorial is really gaining momentum. and i've been in touch with our

consulates in chicago, new york, los angeles, our honorary consuls from across the country and i've been in meetings tonight with the trade union movement, anti-apartheid movement, people from congress and the city and so forth. i think we are witnessing one of the most remarkable upwellings of love and support and admiration who want to pay tribute to nelson mandela. so we will play a part in washington, d.c. but i think that this thing is really grabbing the attention of people across the united states. and it should. because i think that the united states citizenry have played such an enormous role in the anti-apartheid struggle, in struggle to free nelson mandela. it was a battle by the citizens who forced even the white house to come to understand who nelson mandela was and why they should be on the right side of history. and so we owe it to the people of the united states to give them the avenues for their grief and the avenues for their tribute. >> and it will be a major memorial ambassador, i know

you're going to stay with us through the hour. so don't go away. we have many more issues to discuss, many more questions. the ambassador ibrahim rasul will be here. we'll also go live to harlem in new york city for reaction to nelson mandela's death and his impact on the cause of civil rights in the united states and around the world. and nelson mandela told cnn veteran bernie shaw how he wanted to be remembered after his death. bernie is here. we'll bring you some of that very emotional interview just before nelson mandela was sworn in as president. >> i, nelson mandela, do hereby swear to be faithful to the republic of south africa and do solemnly and sincerely promise at all times to promote that

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looking at live pictures from soweto in south africa where people are celebrating the life of nelson mandela. the world is paying contribute you to the great south africa

leader as well, including a tribute under way over at the historic apollo theater in new york city, a legendary center of african-american culture. tonight it's honoring nelson mandela. cnn's don lemon is in harlem. he's outside the apollo theater right now. so tell our viewers, don, the reaction coming out of where you are. >> reporter: almost immediately, wolf, people started to react here. and it was really apropos. because after nelson mandela got out of prison for 27 years, one of the first places he came was to here in harlem. and so the first people to pay tribute really to him were people here in harlem. i just want to show you the iconic marquee of the apollo theater back in 1990 when nelson mandela and his then wife win any visited here in harlem. it says "to mr. and mrs. mandela welcome home we love you we love you we love you". tonight the sign says "in memory of nelson mandela 1918-2013, he

changed our world." and he certainly did. this evening, wolf, i have been going all throughout harlem and people have been telling me about their memories of nelson mandela. and even those who weren't old enough to remember him, coming here to harlem, they talked about studying him in school. and one young man saying, i didn't know anything about apartheid. i knew nothing about racism. one day we had this exercise in our class and someone taught me about nelson mandela. and it was then i knew that i had a voice. and that's the legacy that nelson mandela will leave on the world, wolf >> yes. he was released from prison in 1990, and he came to harlem not that long after. for that very important visit, don, thank you very much. we're joining now by cnn pioneer the veteran actor my former colleague bernard shaw who is here with us as well. bernie, thanks very much for coming in. you had a powerful interview in 1994 when you went to south africa. you interviewed nelson mandela at that time. i want to play a few clips and

then we'll discuss. here's the first one. >> everyone is curious about you. you have one cavity filling. you're 75 years old. your body has many muscles. your smile is earnest. but your eyes and your mind come from the ages. who are you? >> well, this is a difficult question. i have not been able to answer it. but i am part and parcel of a team which has been part of the broad anti-apartheid movement in this country. and there are many men and women from different political affiliations who have contributed to this struggle. i am one of those. i would like to be remembered not as anybody unique or special but as part of a great team in

this country that has struggled for many years for decades and even centuries to bring about this day. >> that was quite a little clip. you remember that day pretty vividly, had a powerful impact on your life. >> i remember it fully, wolf. we did the interview in a hotel suite. and president mandela, soon to become the president -- >> this is just before his inauguration. >> just before his inaugust august racial. we had -- inauguration. he spoke about the long years of struggle. what he didn't say is that this man on robben island struggled for nearly three decades, honing his strategy. and he knew that inclusivity, including everybody, had to be the way to go. that's why when he came out he was able to garner the support of whites. he did not denounce whites. he made many gestures to include them in the run up to what we know today as south africa. >> no revenge, no bitterness.

an amazing man. >> none of that. he knew that was the secret. >> let me play another clip from your interview with nelson mandela. >> you, sir, and i are citizens of countries in which political violence has taken a dastardly toll. i'm thinking of dr. martin luther king in my country, president john kennedy, his brother robert f. kennedy. my question is, what happens if something happens to you between now and inauguration day or even after? >> we do not think in terms of individuals. we are a team. we have been brought up in the tradition of a collective leadership. leaders come and go. but the organization with its collective continues. i have no concept at all that if a particular individual is not available there will be an

interruption or changes in the policies of the organization. >> i remember those days like you do. we were all worried that someone would go after him. >> it was presumed that it might happen. he said leaders come and go. what he didn't say is that some leaders remain in history forever. that was nelson mandela. >> an amazing man. i'd like to play this third clip and then we'll talk about that. >> if you are elected, once taking office what will be your first -- your very first official act? >> well, i don't think that i can look at this office from the point of view of what my first act would be. we are concerned with addressing the basic needs of the majority of the people and to raise them to the same level as their white counterparts in this country. that is a colossal program in which the priorities will be

determined by the resources at our disposal. and it is what we will address at the time when we launch the reconstructions and development program. and we will work out our priorities then. except to say that we regard the provision of jobs, of housing, the free quality education as being at the top of our list. >> bernie, did you realize how powerful, how important, what a historic figure he was when you sat down with him in 1994? >> no, i did not. i had an appreciation but i did not realize the intensity and the gravity of his presence not only as a human being but as a leader. one word sticks out in my mind about nelson mandela and what he was striving for. the word is very simply

"parity." parity. he wanted parity for all south africans. and he put his nation on the road to that parity. he knew it wouldn't happen in his lifetime. but his contribution was seminal. >> if anyone had justification for revenge and bitterness, 27 years he spent in prison in awful awful conditions, what 17 years on robben island. and i saw that little cell there. and yet he said, you know what, south africa needs everyone. we need a new south africa, a democratic south africa where everyone can be free and participate in a democracy. >> indeed, wolf. and we just remember, when you have almost three decades to sit at night in a cell, to think, to envision what you want for yourself, your family and your country, you become very refined in your objective. he once said that hatred clouds and fogs the mind. he did away with hatred. he wanted to be inclusive.

so when he got out, he was forgiving. he did not forget, never forget. but he was forgiving. >> bernie, you're going to stay with us for the hour as well, right? >> i'm your guest. i'm your friend. i'm here for the duration. >> good to have bernard shaw here in our studios at cnn. thank you. don't go away. president obama paid a very moving tribute to nelson mandela from the white house. we're going to hear what the president of the united states had to say. and i'll talk live to the daughter of dr. martin luther king jr. sharing her memories of nelson mandela. but first, the words of mandela himself on the day of his release after 27 years in prison. >> i have fought against white domination. [ cheers ] >> and i have fought against

black domination. [ cheers ] >> i have cherished the idea of a democrat ic and fair society n which all persons live together in harmony. life with crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis

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as we reported earlier, plans are now being made for president obama to travel to south africa for nelson mandela's memorial service. and the president has directed that flags in the united states be flown at half-staff in nelson mandela's honor until monday. earlier he paid an emotional tribute to nelson mandela from the white house. >> at his trial in 1964, nelson mandela closed his statement from the dock saying, "i have fought against white domination, and i have fought against black domination. i have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in

which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities" it is an ideal which i hope to live for and to achieve. but if needs be, it is an ideal for which i am prepared to die." and nelson mandela lived for that ideal and he made it real. he achieved more than could be expected of any man. and today he's gone home. we've lost one of the most influential, courageous and profoundly good human beings that any of us will share time with on this earth. he no longer belongs to us, he belongs to the ages. for now let us pause and give thanks for the fact that nelson mandela lived, a man who took history in his hands and bent the arc of the moral universe towards justice.

may god bless his memory and keep him in peace. >> here is a picture of then senator barack obama meeting with nelson mandela at a conference here in washington back in 2005. it was the only time they met. president obama was in south africa earlier this year, but nelson mandela was seriously ill and they did not get a chance to meet then. bernice king is the daughter of the reverend dr. martin luther king jr. she's joining us on the phone right now. dr. king, thanks very much for joining us. tell us about the impact, the role that nelson mandela had on your dad. >> well, my father unfortunately didn't get an opportunity to meet mr. mandela. but there was a bond in their freedom struggle. the struggles we were fighting for in america and the struggle they were fighting for in south africa. ironically next year will be

celebrating the 60th anniversary of daddy receiving the nobel peace prize. just a few days before in london called for a worldwide movement of economic sanctions and for the fact that nelson mandela was languishing in prison. and so he identified with the south african struggle, the apartheid struggle obviously. and saw it uniquely and intimately similar to our struggle in america >> yes, he did indeed. your mother, dr. king, recalled there was a picture of nelson mandela when he came to the united states, and he laid a wreath at your father's grave. there's the picture right there. tell us about that day. >> it was a very exciting day. i certainly looked forward to meeting him. he had been in prison all of my

life. i was 27 at the same time that he had been in prison for 27 years. and for many of us who were a part of that whole anti-apartheid movement, i was arrested a few times. one time with my mother protesting at the south african embassy in washington, d.c. this was a very special and exciting moment, because it was a feeling of triumph that the very thing that we had been struggling for, fighting for, that we didn't know when there would be any kind of positive outcome. it gave us an extraordinary feeling to see him live and in person and coming to pay tribute to my father at that time. it was very meaningful. my mother in fact chaired the hostess committee when he came to atlanta in 1990. we had private moments with him in her office at the king center. and just extraordinary man.

a gentle giant. he's the kind of individual that the words that he spoke were so profoundly challenging to your spirit. and we don't see those types of leaders in our society today. >> bernice king, thanks so much for your reflections on this day. dr. martin luther king's daughter bernice king joining us. let's bring back the south african ambassador to the united states, ibrahim rasul along with my former colleague and good friend choong nn anchor, formerr bernard shaw and delegate oliver norton. it's such a powerful moment not only in american history, south african history but in world history right now. what did nelson mandela mean to you? >> well, he meant so much to me. i was a part of the free south africa movement here in the united states.

>> i remember those days. >> how many leaders in a foreign country could have inspired people in the united states. >> remind our viewers what it was like, that movement. >> that movement first was small. it began with people seeking to have their own legislatures sanction or keep from buying anything related to south africa, engaged in their pension funds and the like. but in 1984 around thanksgiving, four of us went into the south african embassy under false pretense pretenses and actually it wasn't really to free nelson mandela. we didn't have the hubriss to believe that that's what we could do. but there were trade unionists who were being held incommunicado. but we went in to speak about progress in south africa.

and by preagement, i said that i had to leave about 45 minutes into the meeting. that was in order to go out and tell the picket line that had already formed also by prearrangement that the three were not coming out. and of course, that meant i had to be arrested later. but what happened was virtually spontaneous. people from around the country, the well-known, the little-known, the unknown came in order to be arrested, in order to eliminate apartheid. >> bernie, you remember covering those protests, the impact. they started relatively small but they had an enormous impact obviously on what was going on in south africa and the ambassador will weigh in on this in a second. but it had an enormous impact here. >> indeed they did. and they might have seemed routine on the pages of the "washington times" and the "washington post." but they were kind of bedrock to what was happening in terms of

the grassroots organizing that was underfoot. >> how aware were you in south africa of the protests, the demonstrations this were going on here in the united states, mr. ambassador? >> we lived under successive states of emergency. it was a complete news blackout. many of us had not seen the face of nelson mandela. not allowed to fly the colors of the african national congress. but when we saw what was happening out in places like washington, d.c. and london, and heard that people like stevie wonder was being arrested outside the embassy and great companies like kodak were disinvesting from south africa and banks were placed under pressure, it gave us the courage to face whatever odds the state of emergency would give us. because then we knew that we were going to be free, that when it was a matter for debate in the congress of the united states, when every day, day in and day out in london and in

washington the great capitals of the world, people were giving themselves up for arrest, we then knew that it was a matter of time. >> right. >> and lastly, when this movement got president reagan to change his mind, then the last bastion of support for apartheid south africa fell. and that was the decisive moment. >> as the ambassador speaks about the fight for freedom, and you, congresswoman, i was just thinking about your interview, wolf, with dr. bernice king. nelson mandela and dr. martin luther king were cell mates. he in a birmingham jail, he in robben island jail. >> and they both sort of helped each other. they both worked on each other's mission. there's a bond there. there's a link between dr. martin luther king jr. and nelson mandela. even though they never met. >> they never met. and king was assassinated long

before -- >> 1968. >> yes, before mandela was released from prison. but mandela read about martin luther king. mandela did not go into robben island a nonviolent man. he came out of robben island intent somehow upon bringing his country together in a peaceful revolution. this was a racially torn society. the whole notion that it could come together in peace to solve that problem was beyond anyone's imagination. he did it. >> i assume there'll be a huge congressional delegation that will want to go to south africa. >> certainly. >> have you been hearing about that already? >> well, remember, congress is gone at the moment. when this occurred. >> for this, many members will want to join in the president and go to south africa. >> there will be an official delegation. >> have you decided what day the memorial service in washington will be and where it will take place, mr. ambassador? >> we are meeting with the

washington cathedral tomorrow morning to finalize the plans. >> the national cathedral in washington? >> the national cathedral in washington. we are hoping they will accede to wednesday morning. this gives enough people enough time to get out to south africa if they need to and pay a proper tribute to nelson mandela. >> i'm sure the president will want to be there. >> unless he's in south africa already by then. we'll see when he's going to south africa. >> and many thousands of people who would want to be there obviously will not be able to get through. >> but they can see it on television. all right, ambassador, thank you so much for joining us. once again our deepest condolence to all the people of south africa on this huge huge loss. eleanor holmes norton as usual thank you very much for sharing some thoughts on this very special day. bernie, you're going to stay with us. the first lady of the united states, michelle obama, and a former first lady, hillary clinton, they're among those paying tribute to nelson mandela on social media tonight along with so many others. we're going to show you what's going on.

that's coming up next. plus cnn's christiane amanpour. and once again, bernie shaw our former anchor, they're both standing by as our special coverage continues. but first, nelson mandela speaking as he retired from public life back in 2004. >> don't call me. [ laughter ] >> i'll call you. [ laughter ] [ applause ] >> seriously, therefore, my public activities will as of today be significantly and severely reduced. which i trust people understand our considerations and will grant us the opportunity for a much quieter life. before using her new bank of america credit card, which rewards her for responsibly managing

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take a look at this moving

tribute to nelson mandela "the new yorker" magazine. it's entitled madiba, mandela's tribal name. the artist says it's meant to represent the young mandela at a time when he was on trial. "time" magazine has a tribute cover that has three words to sum up mandela's life. protester, prisoner and peacemaker. joining us now on the phone is the democratic congressman from maryland, eli yeah cummings. congressman, thanks so much for joining us. what does nelson mandela mean to you? >> well, he is the similymbol o freedom for me. i'll never forget when he came in 2005 and was with members of the congressional black caucus. and he talked about when he stepped out of prison and how he had been imprisoned. and while he was coming out he said, i wanted to be free.

i wanted to truly be free. and the ability of this great man to spend the time that he spent in prison to go through all that he went through and to then come out, become the president and to create of all things, wolf, a body that dealt with forgiveness and reconciliation, only mandela could pull that off. i mean if you really think about it, here was a people who had been treated very, very badly. and yet and still, because of his -- because of who he was, and because of all he had been through, and because he had that desire to free his country so that it could go into the future and have a bright future, his example and then the time he spent making all that happen will affect generations yet

unborn. and he certainly did inspire my life and inspired so many others. >> well said, representative elijah cummings of maryland. let's bring in our chief international correspondent christiane amanpour along with our former cnn anchor bernie shaw. christiane, i want to show view thors a picture of nelson mandela's prison cell back in 1977. this is video of that prison cell where he spent on robben island what about 17 years, spent what 27 years in prison all together. and he came out amazingly without bitterness, without anger. he wanted to build a new south africa. it's pretty amazing when you think about it, christiane. >> it is. and like many of you, we've all paid our pilgrimage to robben island and be to that prison cell. it does concentrate your mind. look at that picture of him with his glasses on. he was said to have really injured his eyes with the glare

of that rock quarry work that he had to do out there. and of course, his lungs were devastated, too. and hence his lengthy illnesses. what people have said he didn't not have bitterness or hate, he simply decided that he wasn't going to give into it. of course he had bitterness and resentment. he even said it himself for the undignified way with which he was treated. but he did not allow that to shape his future and his promise for the country. and it's incredible to hear people who say that he was the prisoner and yet he stamped his authority on the prison just by his own steely courtesy and his dignity and his refusal to be dismissed by those guards. he kept his dignity and forced respect from his adversaries, from his enemies, from his jailers. and eventually from the white minority. and was able to bring down

apartheid with f.b. de klerk. >> this is video from 1977. we weren't allowed to show it until nelson mandela passed away. now we're showing it to our viewers here in the united states and around the world. 1977, he wasn't released from prison until 1990. so this is pretty dramatic. >> and this man, to follow on what christiane has just said, this man took his anger, and if he had hatred he certainly concealed it. he took it and he fashioned it into moral force. that was the majesty of what he did when he came out. >> what was his impact, christiane, not only in south africa or here in the united states but indeed around the world? >> well, massive. around the world absolutely staggering and really massive. and i'm sure you've read so many people are asked who is your favorite leader? who is your hero? everybody says nelson mandela. because he embodies that moral

courage, greater even than physical courage, and that ability to put aside his own bitterness, resentness, sacrifice and all that he lost over those 27 years and all the majority of the people there lost in that undignified and appalling racist regime. and built a future of tolerance and democracy. and that is quite incredible. and so people really do say that he is their hero and tributes are being paid from, as you know, from down street, from all over the world. i spoke to f.w. de klerk, the former president. he said that he was a very, very good man to negotiate with. he really respected him. he was surprised the first time he met him because mandela was so tall and dignified and ram rod straight, he said. and they had a decent working relationship. not without its arguments and spats. >> certainly not without that. christiane, bernie, stand by. up next, there's a huge reaction

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reaction to nelson mandela's death is pouring in from leaders around the world. cnn's joe johns covered mandela both here in washington as well as in south africa. so joe, what are the folks out there, celebrities and others saying? >> reporter: just a real outpouring throughout the evening, wolf. reactions coming in from all over the world have been vo luminous to say the least. vice president biden in a statement saying in the hands of nelson mandela hope and history rhymed. this is a better world because nelson mandela was in it. this evening we heard from first lady michelle obama who said on twitter "we will forever draw strength and inspiration from nelson mandela's extraordinary example of moral courage and kindness and humility." former secretary of state hillary clinton who also traveled to south africa as first lady in the 90s said "nelson mandela was a champion

for justice and human dignity with unmatched grace. i'll remember him as madiba, truly an unconquerable soul." >> people all over the world are remembering him with wonderful wonderful thoughts. joe thanks very much. bernard shaw is still with us. bernie, give us a little final thought on what nelson mandela meant to you. >> he meant the world to me. i trusted him. i loved him. i adored him. i respected him. why? because he lived and led the way we would want to. >> he inspired you as he inspired so many millions of people all over the world. but you had a chance to get to know him personally a little bit. you spent some time with him. and he was such a powerful figure. you spent time with him on the eve of his inauguration as president of south africa. >> yes, i did. but i go back to this capital city here in washington when president and mrs. clinton

hosted the state dinner at the white house. later, prince mandar, saudi arabia's ambassador had a huge party at his residence. linda, my wife, we saw him as he worked his way through the tables. and he said, oh, there you are. he said, taking my wife's hands, he said, i see and i know now where your success comes from. a great sense of humor. >> amazing man. >> he was right about linda, too. >> of course i know linda. she's a wonderful lady. and bernie, it's good to have you back in the chair at cnn. bernie shaw, always good to have him covering these kinds of stories. thanks very much for watching. i'm wolf blitzed in washington. cnn's special coverage continues cnn's special coverage continues right after this. -- captions by vitac -- www.vitac.com

. >> hello, welcome to our special coverage of the death of nelson mandela at cnn center, i'm john holtz. >> welcome, i'm natalie allen.

the iconic leader who has every reason to hate but instead chose to forgive was 95-years-old. he guided south africa from apart hi aapartheid to democracy. jacob zuma told the world the news. >> fellow south africans, our beloved nelson mandela, the founding president of our democratic nation has departed. he passed on peacefully in the company of his family around 20:50 on the 5g9 of december, 2013. >> and there it was, the announce. . mandela retired from pub leg

life years ago him he hadn't been seen in public since 2010 when south africa hosted the football world cup, where you are seeing him here. his health had been failing for quite some time. in recent years, he was in and out of the hospital t. south african press reports mandela's body has been moved to a military hospital. >> for 26 long weeks, south africans have been living with the knowledge that nelson mandela was gravely ill. let's go live now to robin kurnow. she has covered nelson mandela extensively. he was covering the world for this one. >> reporter: well, he had such resilience, such fortitude, such a stubborn will to survive, didn't he, that took him through 27 years of prison that really saw him in jail, all sorts of hardships, extraordinary life

that stanned spanned from 1918 when the first world war was ending to now. many people in south africa as they weak up to this news. remember, it was announced just before midnight south african time, so a lot of people will only be hearing the sad news now in the early morning and they will probably, their hearts will probably-mile-per-ho mirror the weather behind me. it's a damp, grey day in south africa. it should be a normally hot summer's day. i think many people will feel that sense of depression, of sadness, because this is a man that's given so much to this country. take a look at in. [ music playing ] nelson mandela struggled for freedom to find his life. he was born in the remote hills of south africa's easton cape.

he was given the name which means trouble maker. he was only given the name nelson by a school teacher later on. after moving to johannesburg and studying law, his politics began. as a boxer, he became adept at picking fights with authorities that increased its oppression against the black population. it was then that mandela made the crucial decision to take up an arms struggle. he was militant and a fire brand, defeently burning his passport, a dreaded document authorities used to control the move. of south africa's black population. >> the africans require want the franchise on the basis of one man, one vote. they want political independence. >> that demand and efforts mandela took to fight for democracy eventually saw him and

others tried for treason and sabotage, acts punishable by death. life imprison. is dead, banished to robin island one of the country's most brutal and isolated prisons. another prisoner remembers the first time he saw mandela in a prison yard. >> i could see from the way he walked and from his conduct that here was a man already stamping his authority on prison regime. >> mandela was released 27 years later. >> i have spoken about freedom in my lifetime your commitment and your discipline has relieved me to stand before you today. >> and his lack of bitterness towards the apartheid

authorities helped him relieve one of the most remarkable political transitions of the 20th century, mandela outmaneuvered the leaders. he steered south africa's peaceful transition to democracy. he won a nobel peace prize along with his enemy f.w. de klerk. >> and i brought myself to the wealthy of the republic. >> then he became south africa's first black president in 1994. >> what marks mandela's career as president more almost more than anything else is that after five years, he stepped down. there have been very few presidents in africa who gave up willingly. >> don't call me, i'll call you back. >> his retirement years were busy with fundraising for

charities close to his heart. he celebrated his 90th birthday with much fanfare and told cnn in a rare interview that looking back he wouldn't do anything differently. >> i don't regret it because things that mattered to me were thingsed that i pleased in myself. >> now those who loved and respected him look to his legacy. >> and if we want to learn from him, learn that life is not made up of straight victories, it's made up of mistakes, zigzags, stumbling, picking yourself up and dusting off the dirt, treating the clothes and walking again forward. >> and what a journey, just put it into perspective, one man's

life. he was born in 1918 at the end of the first world war. at theably of the age of 46, he was sentenced to life in prison. at theably of 72, he emerged from prison after 27 years and then at the age of 76 became the first black president the first democratically elected president. at the age of 80 he married for the third time. in the last 15 years, he spent time trying to reconnect with his family trying to find peace and quiet in his rural hometown and his rural homestead where he will be buried in ten days time. so i think nobody can regrudge a man whose journey has spanned nearly a century and who did not just so much good for the south african nation who i think inspired the world and on the way. >> a lot of talk of legacy right now, robin. i guess a testament is he will be equally mourned by blacks and

whites. >> absolutely. i think that's key. he realized very early on and in prison in those early days of is incarceration in this sort of mid-'60s when it was really tough on robin island, black people were made, black men, middle-aged men his age were made to wear shorts, not long trousers. they were considered boys, still. even in that state, he had the vision the long-term vision to know that one day he or his people will have to negotiate with the africao africanos and learned the language of the oppressor. he started learning the africant history, understanding the way they think. many of his fellow prisoners say these guys will never bother with it, these guys will never change.

he always made a point of trying to look his enemy in the eye and try and understand them and try and respect them and with that, he managed to create the conditions slowly after decades where the africanos, the government, apartheid government felt they could talk to him. that was the key. he managed to bridge the differences between the enemy. it was a remarkable feat. >> it was a pripsen guard he befriended who told him africans in the first place. another thing he said when you have done your duty, you can rest for eternity. robyn curnow live from johannesburg, thank you so much. >> it is morning in south africa and people are waking and hearing this noise. crowds are starting to gather outside nelson mandela's home in

johannesburg. [ music playing [ music playing ] >> the pictures of people gathering outside his home. s the 7:00, about two hours after sunrise, many have been singing, dancing, holding up their phones to gather images of this moment. we imagine that crowd will grow as this day pushes on. a man served a correct, al role, van zail was the secretary that tried to help south africans come to terms with their apartheid past and move towards a unified future. he jones me now on the lean from miami, florida. thank you for joining us. i first of all want to get your reaction to news of nelson mandela's death. >> well, i think it's obviously a moment of enormous sadness, but i think we would do well to

also think of it as a moment of great reflection and almost ironically a moment of celebration of prisoner mandela's legacy of what he has brought to the country and also of what he has taught the world about those reconciliation and about generosity. i think one of the hallmarks of his presidency. >> generosity. what a nice word to use for nelson mandela. you were at one point were opposed in his efforts an ended up being executive secretary of the truth and reconciliation commission. so what was that period like for you and south africans as he was the one who encouraged this peaceful coming together of a country? >> well, i think what mandela really talks about south

africans and the world was that most reconciliation and forgiveness were not chief emotions and they were incredibly powerful and valuable concepts. they were -- it is an idea that was predicated on an idea of acknowledgment. it was about speaking the truths and about recognizeing that a pontiff was characteristic of. it was about about charting a way forward, about saying in order for our nation to succeed, we have to find a way of confronting the past, of acknowledging suffering and of making amends and committing ourselves to an alternative future. i think without both nelson mandela and desmond tutu, it

would have been impossible to contemplate a newcomer nation and i think that so many countries around the world, that i personally have worked in have taken that lesson to heart and sought to apply it. so it's really a global icon, not just one of south africa's most beloved leaders. >> oh, absolutely t. world will long remember his efforts and hopefully be affected by what he was able to do. what was it about nelson mandela the person that you think was able to overcome what he overcame and lead the country to the point where he took them? >> i think nelson mandela did a thing that is characteristic of all great leaders. he extracted himself from his own emotions and emotional

contions. here was a man who was in prison for 27 years in robin island and elsewhere, he was depreeved of more than a third of his life and i think too often today we see a brand of people who govern according to either their own emotions or what they think the base emotions of their constituency would appreciate and mandela was able to extract himself from that and say what is it that our country need and how can i lead the country towards that? and i think that understanding of broader vision and being able to eschew some of our more

visceral impulses, it's a hallmark of extraordinary leadership. >> well, we know this is quite a day for people leak you who were there and helped the country come together and work with nelson mandela. we really appreciate your time and reflections paul zail. >> thank you. >> everyone is talking ability nelson mandela's extraordinary ability to forgive. >> using the word generosity. i keep writeling down all the words everyone is saying. it's a beautiful picture. >> it really is. >> much more after the brake. we will continue with our cover annual of the death of nelson mandela. >> we will look at the legacy of his leadership. stay with us. much more ahead. i have low testosterone. there, i said it.

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get the blood tests. change your number. turn it up. androgel 1.62%. >> welcome back him coming up on 20 minutes past midnight in the united states. looking at the south african embassy in washington as people place flowers at the statue of nelson mandela. the flags have been moved to half-staff in mourning for the south african leader. >> well, earlier the united nations u united nations security council held a moment of silence on the announce. of mandela's deatmandela's deao.

a poignant moment of silence there. almost gives you chills. >> it does. a lot of people were talking about leadership, he was this great statesman. shortly after he was president in 1994, he was asked about his goals for the town of soweto just outside johannesburg. regular bar gage collection, that's what leadership was about. >> he can relate to that. he took it from this level and to other levels. let's talk more about that now bring back in robyn curnow in johannesburg for us live, robin. >> reporter: hi there. you know, when you do talk about nelson mandela, you think of you know an iconic leader. are they born or bred? we know nelson mandela's leadership was honed in prison. it was kind of a university for

him that he used that time to think to look ahead to prepare but he also know intrinsically he learns a lot of those lessons as a tribal boy listening to the elder chiefs. so he was this enig ma when you talk to people. within i watched him, he was a combination of a life long rebel, an aristocrat. he was also a world statesman. what was also clear, he wasn't idealistic. he was very pragmatic and comfortable with contra dictions. take a listen to this. >> with your right hand say, so help me good. >> so help me god. >> when mr. mandela was amellior rated as the first president, i wish we had said look, i really

if i di now i mean there's nothing that is ever going to be able to top this. >> archbishop tutu acknowledging when nelson mandela was inaugurated as the first black president of south africa that it was a culmination of decades of waiting, planning, negotiating. >> i said to him, did you ever lose hope in the 27 years that you were in prison? was there ever a moment when you first know? he said, no. i had no time for that. i was confident from the time i walked into prison. i was confident that i would walk out of prison a free man into a free society. >> reporter: her mandela is meeting the wife of the former president the architect of apartheid. >> we are now waiting.

>> reporter: it was these gestures that underscored mandela's understanding of the enemy. here you see the prosecutor in the trial that put him in jail. many say he recognized the apartheid state was on fear, a fear he believes could be overcome peacefully without humiliating the racist government and causing further violence. >> they don't know how to surrender. you must help them surrender. the mandela way unpresented was one of approaching your enemy. you hold his hand. you help him. he said they were embarrassed to surrender. we have their business. what do we do? so he went and put it in the hand and pulled the elbow and held it. that's how we ended the

apartheid. >> reporter: with his populist appeal, historians say he was the right leader for the right time for south africa, a man whose values were honed in a childhood household in these rural hills. >> his sense of discipline, his sense of respect, his sense of sharing, his sense of humility, all of it comes out of the tra terrible assistance he comes from. >> reporter: mandela returned to live in the twilight of his life. it is here where he'll be laid to rest. you know, it also must be said that nelson mandela was a pretty accessible leader and he used humor. he used to mock himself. he would tease. he could cajole. he had a very cheeky way of using his power very effectively, whether to poke fun

at himself and say, oh, i'm an old man. you can't listen to me, by reference saying, you know, you should or by just sort of using that natural charm to make people feel at ease with him. and he did it with pop stars and celebrities and ordinary people. so he rarely understood humanity and psychology and he really understood his role in being a symbol and the power of being a leader and the type of leader he wanted to be. it was widely constructed because he knew huh powerful his image was and he didn't want to alienate anyone. so he was a very, very shrewd politician at the same time intrinsically very centered. very humbled. very aware of himself. >> he certainly had much to draw on and he ever used it so successfully and so many areas of his life and that country and the world. robin corn now, we will see you again. thank you for your reporting.

you are watching continuing coverage of the death of nelson mandela as the world remembers his life and legacy. >> details of how mandela's life left, his freedom aired in london. . [ music playing ] [ music playing ] [woman] you wrapped the...

[man] it's nothing but tape... [woman] it's a block. we're havin' a baby! [laughter in background] [woman screams] are we havin' a baby? [ambient crying and laughter]

. >> welcome back to cnn viewers in the u.s. and around the world. former south african president nel sand mandela remembered around the world. >> he died on thursday. mourners have been placing flowers and a statue near the housings of parliament. here's what some are saying ability the great man. >> a friend, for sure our friend, really at the moment, his name will never be forgotten. everything he has done for the world, so it's never a lelgacy, he will live forever. >> i mean, world leaders have been influenced by him, leaders have been influenced by him. >> it's an incredible moment, isn't it, for a lot of people like we say? he's been an inspiration for

generations growing up, not just for people in south africa but around the world. it goes on. so i think a lot of people have a lot of lessons to learn. >> the anti-apartheid dooid just as a film of his life premiered in london. max folser reports, his daughters were there. >> reporter: when nel sand mandela's daughters arrived at the cinema for the premier, they were all smiles on the red carpet. they told me their father was still well, he hadn't taken a turn for the worse and continued into the theater. they didn't say to watch the movie. that was never the plan. but the oughtience did watch the movie, of course, and during the movie, the wider world was told about nelson mandela's death the organizers contactled the two sisters and asked them how they wanted this to be handled. the sisters said they didn't want the audience to be interrupted. they wanted them told at the end of the movie.

at the end of the movie, the producers stood on stage and told them nelson mandela has died and cries were heard throughout the audience and cinema. people couldn't describe their feeling, they were emotional about the movie, anyway the main character many had an association with certainly saw as an icon. they couldn't understand how the main character could have died whilest watching. it was something that they are still trying to understand. max foster, cnn, lester square, cnn, london. >> mandela "long walk to freedom," he released a statement saying, quote, what an honor it was to step into the shoes of nelson mandela and broke don't barriers and championed human rights among the world him my thoughts and prayers with with his family.

prince william and his wife happened to be attending a premier of that film in london thursday night. he made this brief statement after the screening. >> i just want to say i am extremely sad at the tragic news. we are reminded of what an extraordinary man nelson mandela was. my thoughts and prayers go with his family right now. >> morgan freeman was nominated for an oscar of his portrayal of mandela in "invictus." in a statement he said we have lost one of the true giants in our century t. realization that thanks to him we have all gained something for in bringing down the evil of apartheid, mandela raised us up, passion and ensis tans make us aspire to be better people. in his determination to break to the chains of the past, he allowed us all to join him as

the masters of our fate and the captains of our souls. >> even though the world has lost nelson mandela, we will be seeing such beautiful remembrances like that one. >> "invictus" that was the favorite poem he would read to inmates. you are watching our continuing cover annual of the death of nelson mandela. >> up next. we look at the political life and legacy.

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. >> welcome back. to our viewers in the united states and around the world. >> i'm natalie allen. if you are joining us, nelson mandela is dead at the age of 95. >> he had suffered hundred infection, let he breathed life in what has become known as the rainbow nation. >> mandela accomplished that in a nation completely divide. it took years of determination and years in prison and self sacrifice. robyn curnow joins us again from

johannesburg with a man that had all the right stuff at the right time for a long period of time. >> reporter: if nelson mandela was watching and listening to our coverage and to people talking about him and what he meant a to them, he would say, and i know, because i have heard him say it lots of times, that it wasn't just me who created this democracy, it was the collective, it was the anc, the african national congress, the people who sacrificed their lives who aren't on the world stage, who didn't, you know, make it to be the heros of the struggle. and he was always a party man and he was always saying it wasn't only his fault. it wasn't only his creation. >> that he was part of a group of again racing of a number of generations of young activists who brought an end to apartheid. so when we talk about his

political life, it's important to remember that it was rich and it was nuanced and it wasn't as simple as saying he was the sole leader of this democracy. take a listen. [ music playing ] >> reporter: it was here in johannesburg that nelson mandela's political consciouses in was awakened, the leader of the youth wing of the african national congress the anc, can young mandela made a decision to fight the apartheid state with force. he was prepared for the worst, even when he and others were tried for treason and sabotage, acts punishable by death. >> it would have been a gift for which i am prepared to die. those word read from this original transcript from the year 1964 still resonate, says one of his legal team from that case george bezos. >> if needs be, it is a triumph

for which i am prepared to die. they are word which i think will live forever. >> they were the last word nelson mandela would utter in public. mandela got life imprison. . while in prison, mandela continued to work toward freedom, which seemed so far away. because south africa's townships were burning, a state of emergency was in effect and apartheid regime never seemed stronger, but he took a chance and started to secretly negotiate with the apartheid government. another former political prisoner. >> because he has said on occasion this comes a time when a leader has to lead. >> an apartheid minister at the time and eventual president, f.w. de klerk remembers his first encounter with a man he considered a terrorist. >> my first meeting with him, i didn't know what to expect. there he was standing straight

as a ramrod, taller than i expected. being courteous, obviously a man of integrity. >> in his own act of political bravery, de klerk released mandela in the 1990s, over four years, mandela spearheaded a newcomer constitution and democracy and it was only in these years, just before south africans voted in their first democratic election mandela and the anc renounced violence in their arms struggle. it had been a long war. >> so help me god. >> on the day when he was inducted as president, he stood there on the union buildings and he took my hand and he took it up and he put his arm around me and we showed a unity, which i think resounded throughout south africa and across the world. >> i will come myself as among the ages for our society. >> reporter: mandela's

presidency was marked by reconciliation, but mandela gave up much more than he acknowledged. he admitted he would have liked to have spent more time with his family. in a rare interview with cnn on his 90th birthday. is there anything you wish you had done differently? i have spoken to your wife and many of your grand. they suggest perhaps you spend more time with your family. is that something you think ability as you look back? >> i am sure many people, that is their wish and i also have that wish, that i spend more time with my family. >> so is that a regret of yours? >> i don't regret it because the kings that worked with me were pleased with myself. so i don't regret it, no. >> a man who went looking back over his life, acknowledged that sacrificing his family life was

for the greater good. >> thank you. thank you. >> reporter: nelson mandela. said he wasn't a saint, he didn't want to be you'll jieszed as perfect, that he made mistakes along the way politically and personally. he said rather touchingly, if you want to call him a saint, that his definition of a saint was a sinner who just keeps on trying. >> very nice. >> again, robyn curnow for us live in johannesburg. u.s. mr. president barak obama paid tribute to nelson mandela in an address to the american people. he credits mandela's work for his first political action protesting apartheid. mr. obama talked about how we can all learn from mandela's legacy. >> we will not likely see the likes of nelson mandela again, so it falls to us as best we can

to forward the example that he set, to make decisions guided not by hate but by love, never discount the difference that one person can make to strive for a future that is worthy of his sacrifice. >> nelson mandela inspired many american politics, maxine borders is a member of the u.s. congress who knew mandela. she is a national chair of the black caucus and was behind if campaign to di vest from the apartheid era. she joins us now from los angeles. thanks for being with us. when you think back now on nelson mandela, what is his legacy and what have we lost? >> well, nelson mandela was an extraordinary human being and he showed us what courage really is. not only did he put his life on the line and was prepared to die, to end apartheid in south

africa, he persevered, he ended up in prison for 27 years and he walked out and he walked out a magnificent human being who talked about reconciliation and bringing people together because the president of south africa's absolutely almost unbelievable and in becoming a president of south africa, he changed a nation and he showed the world what's possible if you really believe and you are willing to fight for what you believe. >> absolutely. the pressure on the south african government from countries like the united states as well as countries in europe with sanctions put a lot of pressure, eventually brought about his release from robin island, but the u.s. wasn't so friendly toward nelson mandela, the reagan administration considered the anc a terrorist organization. in fact, four vice presidents,

dick cheney when he was a congressman voted against the anti-apartheid act. so what brought about a change in the u.s. to support sanctions and to support mandela? >> well, what brought about a change was, you know, not only did we have legislators like myself around the country, they were all checked and, you know, they became a part of the work of the anc, but distilled in us and the young people became alive on the campuses and we brought that story to this country and our people to understand what it was all about. at that time you are absolutely right, reagan and you know the republicans and the more conservative elements of our country were aligned with boudelaisse. he was someone not support iivef apartheid and what nelson mandela was doing. so we had to overcome all that.

for years i sent out information to the members of the dachlt state legislature every day to educate them on what was happening in south africa we finally went to jail and marched in front of the south african consulate on a thanksgiving day and we set in and refused to lead. so it's an activism and the work of people who understood what apartheid was all about se bring that to the forefront so so many people joaned in getting rid of the unshunable apartheid. >> we were looking at pictures four months after he was released from robin island. it was a rockstar reception he

received. we appreciate you sharing. >> in los angeles, we failed the college exam. >> i read about that. it was amazing. >> it's amazing. it was absolutely magnificent. >> well, we appreciate your sharing your thoughts with us here miss willis. thank you so much. >> thank you so very much. >>. >> cricket fans and neighbors alike held vigils. some danned and an outpouring of love for a man that touched so many lives directly and indirectly.

. >> what a flict live of the house in washington, just after midnight there flags at the white house at half-staff and remember a south african president. >> let's go to desmond tutu. he is close to mandela. let's listen to what he has to say. >> let us give him the gift of

south africa in spirit, one. god, thank you for the gift of midiva. thank you for what he has enabled us to know we can become. help us to become that kind of nation.

lessen to the word of our savior, jesus christ, i give you a a new command. love one another as i have loved you, so are you to love one another. if there is this love among you, then all will know that you are disciples newcomeewcomerwc.. are my disciples newcomeewcome . the peace of the lord always business with you. >> andals with you.

. >> desmond tutu is holding a church service in capetown for nelson mandela. the two men were very close. they not apartheid together especially throughout the 1980s yes, he has lost a close friend as many people have. >> we will probably be hearing from him today as well, it's very touching to see him walk out and embrace the south african black and whites who are in that church today. >> many, many more memorials to come as south african mourns and marks the passing of a great man and the man who nelson mandela shared the 1993 peace prides spoke to cnn. f.w. de klerk was the president

of south africa in 1990. >> and that is when he made the fateful decision to free the world's most famous political prisoner. de klerk spoke with phone with cnn. >> it's a sad day, a sad moment, but it is good to hear your voice again. >> well, thank you, sir. please tell me and tell the world, what you feel at this moment beyond the sadness and what you can say about the man who became your partner and you became his under extremely difficult circumstances to transform your country? >> firstly, i would like to say that i fully associate myself with the dignified and feeling statement which the president has made. every word of what he said is true and he touched my heart. nelson mandela's biggest legacy was his commitment to

reconciliation, was a remarkable lack of bitterness and the way in which he did not talk about reconciliation, but he made reconciliation happen in south africa. he was a remarkable man and south africa not withstanding political differences stand united today in mourning this great special man. >> mr. de klerk, walk me back to when you summoned him from the prison when you first met him, why did you do that? what was going on then and what did you think of him when he came into your presence the first time? >>. >> at that first meeting that we had was intended and i think the same intention just to get the feel of each other. because it was already clear

then that there would be a negotiation. it was already clear he would be remiss. no debts were fixed. no specific announcements were made, but he has been talking even in the time of my predecessor through four important role players within the government and the national party. having talks about talks, discussing the possibility of negotiation we will talk about the issues which were negotiate later on but exploring the possibility of negotiations and both of us after that first meeting wrote in our perspective autobiographies that we could report back to our constituencies, i think i can do business with this man. there was an immediate i would say a spark between the two of us and not withstanding the many stats we have later, i always

respected him and i always liked him as a person. he was a magnanimous person, a compassionate person. not only a man of vision, not only a good leader, but he was also a very human, human man. >> in the end you both won the nobel peace prize for that work, for bringing democracy to south africa. but there you were the white president of a minority regime and this towering moral figure came into your presence. what did you feel when you first saw him? what did he lock like? >> o'was, i studied a lot about him and i was briefed by those who were speaking to him while he was still in prison, but he impressed me tremendously. he was taller than i expected. he was ramrod straight. he looked one in the eye very

directly. he was a good listener. i could immediately see that he had an analytical approach to discussion, which i liked very much. i was very much impressed with him at that first meeting. >> f.w. de klerk. leaders across the world are sharing theerl memories that mandela, u.n. president moon called him a giant for justice and down to earth human inspiration. >> he went on to say nelson mandela showed what is possible for our world and within each one of us, if we believe, dream and work together for justice and humanity. let us continue each day to be inspired by nelson mandela's lifelong example to keep working for a better and more just world. british prime minister david cameron stood in front of 10 downing street to reflect on mandela's passing. here it is. >> tonight, one of the brightest

lights of our world has gone out. nelson mandela was not just a hero of our time, but a hero of all time. the first president of a free south africa, a man who suffered so much for freedom and justice and a man who through his dignitary and through his triumph inspired millions. if strongest impression of all, when you met him was of his extraordinary compassion and generosity and forgiveness. tonight, families across britain will mourn with his family and everyone in south africa. your greatest son has moved millions and i believe that his inspeculation for the future will be every bit as powerful as the extraordinary things that he achieved in his remarkable life. thank you. >> certainly hope those words ring true for the world.

>> david cameron there making a late night statement in london. now, south africa wakes up, the heart breaker of the death of nelson mandela is simply an end. >> another hour of our special coverage continues in just a moment. we hope you stay with us. [ music playing ] .